March 9, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Seen at RNAS Yeovilton on Thursday 8th March….
HUNTER! HUNTER! GROB!
Hawker Hunter Mk.58 ZZ191 has now joined its sister-ship ZZ190 in full UK military markings and camouflage, and performed several approaches and circuits.



The other Hunter was the subject of my visit – Northern Lights’ Hunter F.58 C-GZIC which was making a short visit to the UK from a location in mainland Europe. It is seen here departing…


Comments welcome, on and and off board.
Mark
PS. Forgot the Grob!
By: Seaking93 - 11th March 2007 at 19:47
No Mike they didn’t. This one is operated by the Northern Lights Co. under contract to the Canadian Government for work similar to FRADU, probably hence the visit. However, I thought they were all in Canada and this one seems to have a “Team Apache” insignia on the nose:confused:
As a matter of interest the Canadian Hunter was using ‘Apache’ as a call sign, as for ZZ190 and 191 they are not painted like the FRADU Hawks as they are actually nothing to do with FRADU but are on a contract with BAE Systems involving the PAAMS/T45
By: ALBERT ROSS - 11th March 2007 at 17:29
Pardon my ignorance, did the RCAF ever operate Hunters? Just a question sparked by the shots of ‘ZIC as I was under the impression that their first swept wing aircraft was the F-86
No Mike they didn’t. This one is operated by the Northern Lights Co. under contract to the Canadian Government for work similar to FRADU, probably hence the visit. However, I thought they were all in Canada and this one seems to have a “Team Apache” insignia on the nose:confused:
By: mike currill - 11th March 2007 at 12:49
Pardon my ignorance, did the RCAF ever operate Hunters? Just a question sparked by the shots of ‘ZIC as I was under the impression that their first swept wing aircraft was the F-86
By: markp451a - 11th March 2007 at 11:49
The other Hunter was the subject of my visit – Northern Lights’ Hunter F.58 C-GZIC which was making a short visit to the UK from a location in mainland Europe.
Where is this Hunter based?
She’s based in France with her sister ship operated and maintained by Hunter Flying Club, She came down to Exeter from VL for a couple of days and went back yesterday (sat) some more pics at http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=68448
By: David Burke - 11th March 2007 at 08:43
Has been flying in support of the French military.
By: flyingcloggie - 11th March 2007 at 07:34
The other Hunter was the subject of my visit – Northern Lights’ Hunter F.58 C-GZIC which was making a short visit to the UK from a location in mainland Europe.
Where is this Hunter based?
By: Steve T - 10th March 2007 at 21:54
Woohoo, ZIC yet again! Most cool…Love the Hunter (even if the Hawker with the big ceiling fan on the front is a bit sexier:D )…Hawker simply never built an unattractive fighter, at least not that saw significant service…
Thanx Stringbag for posting these…lovely stuff.
S.
By: stringbag - 10th March 2007 at 20:19
Sounds like he needs a trip to Specsavers then! No Firefly around!
Funny you should say that, later on he unwittingly stood on a freshly laid cow pat, which promptly exploded all up his wellingtons and trousers 😀
Friendly chap though, and good company during my time in the field.
By: Lee Howard - 10th March 2007 at 15:45
Sounds like he needs a trip to Specsavers then! No Firefly around!
Maybe he saw some of the FAAM aircraft outside on Monday, including the Wyvern.
By: stringbag - 10th March 2007 at 15:13
What Firefly? :confused:
That’s what the chap said, he was adamant it was a Firefly and not a Sea Fury/Sea Hawk. :rolleyes:
By: bms44 - 10th March 2007 at 14:39
I’ll reveal all very shortly…….;)
…Oh Lee…. you tease!!…:rolleyes:
By: Lee Howard - 10th March 2007 at 14:20
I’ll reveal all very shortly…….;)
By: bms44 - 10th March 2007 at 14:10
C-GZIC arrived on Tuesday afternoon, followed shortly afterwards by ZZ190 which performed numerous touch and goes.
Lovely to see them, but not the most sexiest Hawker product to be seen this week:D
…Most sexy, or sexiest surely Lee… but what’s your subtle hint – a Sea Hurricane or a Sea Hawk perhaps? ;)…and where’s the photo then, for us deprived droolers who have the misfortune not to be living ten minutes away from VL?
By: CSheppardholedi - 10th March 2007 at 14:06
Great Shooting! Looks like it was a beautiful atypical day for flying and shooting! Either you were really close or had a monster lens. Mind sharing your rig set-up?
I am trying to gear up for a big show at MacDill AFB at the end of the month ( http://www.macdillservices.com/myairfest/ ) and you really can’t get close to the active A/C. That, and the tens of thousands of milling crowd in the way. Looks like you had the airfield to yourself.
Cheers, Great Shooting!
By: Lee Howard - 10th March 2007 at 13:47
Yes I heard about that, or rather I heard about the ‘Firefly’ flying on Wednesday from the chap I met in the field.
What Firefly? :confused:
By: stringbag - 10th March 2007 at 13:23
C-GZIC arrived on Tuesday afternoon, followed shortly afterwards by ZZ190 which performed numerous touch and goes.
Lovely to see them, but not the most sexiest Hawker product to be seen this week:D
Yes I heard about that, or rather I heard about the ‘Firefly’ flying on Wednesday from the chap I met in the field.
Thursday was probably the best morning spent at Yeovilton for a long time, in terms of ‘non-event’ activity.
By: Lee Howard - 10th March 2007 at 13:06
C-GZIC arrived on Tuesday afternoon, followed shortly afterwards by ZZ190 which performed numerous touch and goes.
Lovely to see them, but not the most sexiest Hawker product to be seen this week:D
By: Moggy C - 10th March 2007 at 08:43
……beautiful aircraft…cheers
The Hunter’s not bad either 😉
Moggy.
Nice to see the old jets looking so pristine.
By: Pete Truman - 10th March 2007 at 08:36
This isn’t a complaint, but I’m surprised that the ‘new’ Hunters are painted in the old green and grey camo colours, if they’ve been obtained to perform a role with FRADU, I would have expected them to be either grey or even black like the 100 squadron Hawks.
Anyone remember the Hunter v Shar dogfight at Mildenhall many years ago, the southern spur of the N-S runway had been set up to represent the flight deck of Invincible complete with Sea king AEW’s, I seem to recall that 4 Hunters flew in direct from Yeovilton and bounced the ‘carrier’ resulting in 2 Shars taking off and charged into what looked like an unrehearsed dog fight with much viffing taking place, Shars 4 Hunters 0.
Best dogfight I ever saw was over Woolacombe beach, cliffs and sea in the early 80’s, just after the Falklands War, many Hunters and Shars took part in that and the viffing was sensational.
By: lotus72 - 9th March 2007 at 22:48
Fantastic photos, brilliant stuff.